Quantum Processes and Computation

NWI-IMC055, Spring 2018

This page contains specific information about the Spring 2018 course and lectures (for general information, see studiegids). Please don't forget to register in blackboard for this course, in order to receive email announcements. However, all relevant course information will be provided here (and not in blackboard).

The textbook is available in the science library (but possibly only 1 copy!), and students may purchase it if they wish. The lecture notes contain the same material, and in cases where there are discrepancies (e.g. with exercise numbering), I will try to stick to the lecture note version.

Lectures will be given by Aleks Kissinger in English. All course materials will be in English.

Lectures will be on Mondays 10:45-12:30. Initially, they will be in the High Field Magnet Lab HFML0220, but may change rooms later (check the Rooster).

First lecture: February 5

Last lecture: June 18

The will be NO LECTURES on February 12 (carnival), April 2 & April 9 (mid-semester break), April 30, and June 4.

Werkcollege's take place on Wednesdays 10:45-12:30, from February 7 until June 20. They are in the new lecture room in the Mercator building, MERC1 00.28. In weeks with no lecture, there will also be no werkcollege.

Lectures (topics subject to change)

Lecture 1, Feb 5: Introduction and diagrammatic reasoning

Lecture 2, Feb 19: States, effects, and numbers, and string diagrams

Lecture 3, Feb 26: Quantum-like features from string diagrams

Lecture 4, Mar 5: Hilbert spaces

Lecture 5, Mar 12: Quantum processes

Lecture 6, Mar 19: Quantum measurements

Lecture 7, Mar 26: Classical/quantum interaction

Mid-semester break

Lecture 8, Apr 16: Phases + complementarity

Lecture 9, Apr 23: ZX calculus

Lecture 10, May 7: Foundations of Quantum Computation

Lecture 11, May 14: Quantum Algorithms

Lecture 12, May 28: Quantum Communication Protocols

Lecture 13, Jun 11: Quantum Foundations

Lecture 14, Jun 18: Survey of the state of the art

Grading and Administration

Lectures, werkcollege's and homework are not mandatory. However, homework (H) assignments will be graded weekly and will provide up to 1 bonus point on the final grade.

There will be a larger take-home coursework (C) due after the mid-semester break. This assignment is mandatory, and must be done individually (not in groups). It will constitute 20% of your final grade.

There will be a lab session (L) using the tool Quantomatic in the 4th quarter. Participation and write-up will constitute 10% of your grade.

The remaining 70% of your final grade will be from a written exam (E), taking place after the end of the course.